A Very Nice Weekend!

Not a great picture of me--but note the sweatshirt! Windy and 60's!
The Clemens garden on Friday night--lots of different color themes, and water fountains.

The Musinger Garden we visited on Sat. morning.

Rich and I did get away overnight on Friday, but we went to St. Cloud instead of Duluth. Duluth is so busy (and expensive!) on the weekends, and the Hell's Angels were supposed to be taking over most of the town too. When I'm done with radiation we might try to go up there on a weekday, instead of a weekend. I really should plan a trip to Chicago too, before chemo starts. Shonna wants to look at some colleges in the area. Anyone have any recommendations as to where to stay or what colleges might be good? I've never been there before. I think its about an 8 hour drive from here.

Anyways, back to the weekend. In St. Cloud there are some gardens on the Mississippi River that are so beautiful. I love being by the river! We went to one garden on Friday night, and the other one near it on Sat. morning. We ate at a Ground Round, which is one of our favorite restaurants, but there aren't any in the twin cities anymore. Its the first "real" restaurant Rich took me to, on our 2nd date. (McDonald's drive thru was our first date--and a blind date at that!) At Ground Round they used to give you a basket of peanuts and you just threw the shells on the floor. Now they give you a basket of popcorn instead. Love their shrimp! I enjoyed the whole meal, which hasn't happened in a long time! (Except for the KFC buffet the night before--that was the first time I felt like eating meat.) Before we left town Sat., we ate at a Grizzley's restaurant. I don't think we have them in the cities either, but I've seen them in Duluth before. I ate about 2/3 of my hamburger, and 1/2 my fries--tasted good, but didn't want to overdo it. Plus, we planned on stopping in Elk River on our way home for DQ!

I've been feeling pretty good, except for the tiredness. I took an Ambien last night at 12:45, when I woke up to use the bathroom. That helped me alot! Usually I can't get back to sleep after I wake up, and I toss and turn and keep Rich awake too--eventually I leave the bedroom and go out to the recliner. But the Ambien helped me get back to sleep and I slept until 6, got up briefly and fell back to sleep until about 8--awesome! What a difference a little sleep makes! I made it to church and was so happy to be there worshipping God. I can feel His presence so strongly that I cry--its just beautiful! I'm always amazed at what He has done for me!!

Well, tomorrow starts another week of radiation. I have only 8 treatments left!! I hope I can keep my energy levels up;I get so frustrated when all I do is run to radiation, then come home and nap and watch tv. There is so much I should be doing! So, pray for a good week folks!

Love you all!

Tina